ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 9, 1989 By Steve Newton Hard-core Jeff Healey fans who've already worn out their copies of See the Light and can't wait for the guitar wizard's next LP may want to pick this record up, 'cause Healey goes hog wild on four tracks, including the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" … Continue reading Various Artists: Roadhouse Soundtrack (1989)
Tag: the Doors
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Extraterrestrial Live (1982)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 11, 1982 By Steve Newton Extraterrestrial Live is Blue Öyster Cult's third, and best, live album. The weak production and muddled performances on 1975's On Your Feet Or on Your Knees and the rush job "this will keep them going till our next studio album" impression of 1978's … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Extraterrestrial Live (1982)
That time Johnny Ramone told me why the Ramones covered the Doors’ “Take It as It Comes”
By Steve Newton I got to interview legendary punk-rock guitarist Johnny Ramone a couple of times, once way back in 1983 and again in '92, when the Ramones were touring Brazil in support of their Mondo Bizarro album. That album featured a pretty nifty cover of the Doors' 1967 tune "Take It As it Comes", with … Continue reading That time Johnny Ramone told me why the Ramones covered the Doors’ “Take It as It Comes”
Steve Stevens’ sparkly Les Pauls rule at Billy Idol’s Vancouver show
all awesome iPhone photos by the Newt By Steve Newton You've got to give Billy Idol credit. For a guy whose career peaked roughly three decades ago, he's hanging in there incredibly well. There's little flab on the 59-year-old's tanned bod, and his vocal cords are in fine shape too. Judging by his recent album, Kings … Continue reading Steve Stevens’ sparkly Les Pauls rule at Billy Idol’s Vancouver show
The Doors box set documents the band in all its unrefined glory
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 11, 1997 By Steve Newton This four-disc package of Doors material, spanning the years 1965 to ’71, favours previously unreleased live tracks and demo recordings over studio-polished hits, and documents the band in all its eccentric, unrefined, and—with tunes that pass the 18-minute mark—excessive glory. Its mix of … Continue reading The Doors box set documents the band in all its unrefined glory
The Ramones stay fast and furious on Mondo Bizarro
ORIGINALLY POSTED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 1, 1992 By Steve Newton The Ramones have come a long way since their ear-bustin’ brand of music first helped kick-start the late-’70s punk-rock craze. The band is still delivering the same barrage of noise—three-minute, three-chord tunes played fast and furious, with humorous lyrics and wacky titles like … Continue reading The Ramones stay fast and furious on Mondo Bizarro
Extravagant Doors box captures cosmic aspects of the Lizard King
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 13, 2006 By Steve Newton Anyone put off by surviving Doors members Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzarek’s attempts to cash in on the band’s legacy by scooping up Jim Morrison look-alike Ian Astbury for last year’s Doors of the 21st Century tour can take solace in this extravagant package. Perception … Continue reading Extravagant Doors box captures cosmic aspects of the Lizard King
My first and last interview with Ray Manzarek of the Doors
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 21, 2013 By Steve Newton If you're a fan of old rock music you've probably already heard that Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for legendary American band the Doors, died yesterday--May 20, 2013--from cancer at the age of 74. I wasn't a hardcore Doors freak, but I did enjoy a lot of their … Continue reading My first and last interview with Ray Manzarek of the Doors